Sunday Post-Poteriteri Field-Power Athwart the Tops and back

Mint ride today. On the Jeht, toodled up through Vic and across the Traverse as far as the Bridle Path - taking in all the singletrack to Castle Rock and back again. Seemed to just keep requesting power and receiving it, even on the way back... A week in the field (this was day five) really does wonders - walking through rough forest 8 hours a day for a week.  Jeht rode very nicely and I completely cleaned the Tors with no dabs.  A runner girl had gotten out of my way just where it's rockiest and steepest towards the end, and I said to her, "this is where I usually dab" and lo, I didnt!  Magic.

Must say tho.  Trail Etiquette...  for fuck's sake people.  Learn some fucking sharing skills and think before you drop in, morons.  And remember, typically, uphill has right of way.  Look the fuck ahead before you hit the downhill sections of the Traverse in case someone is just there about to finish the fucking climb.  If it's near the bottom I'm happy to pull up and let 2 or more riders through, but if it's near the top, fuck you, pull up and fucking wait, you cunts.

besides ill-mannered dickheads, a nicely trundled 20 km with 730 m of altitudinal gainage.

Thursday Gilded Gloaming (predominantly) Singletrack

Good night out for a ride this evening. Drove to Nelson's and then in his car we drove up to Upper Major Hornbrook to find a bit of an easterly blowing, but once riding it wasn't too cool. 

Rode up through Britten, me leading and, as usual, pushing harder because not wanting to hold him up.  Took a new sidle onto the 'round the front' track from just before the top, all the way around and out the "Cutting" exit.  Across the road and over the fence and up the overgrown grass (I rode the other day) to the main track, this time turning right and dropping, ball-bearingly, down to the stile and then down through Cavendish Saddle, climbing up the Crater Rim for a start, then hanging a right through the wee gate onto the old zig zag climb up to the Gondola building.  Checked out the view then down around behind the building and up to the left-hander for the dropping down steps and steps and rocks and good flows.  Tricknical down, taking the main trail (due to the old line down to the fence being overgrown now) and nearly losing my front end on one bit.  Through the top of Bridle Path and we stayed on the crater rim trail climbing up around above Whakaraupo track and then up to the top above the Castle and then dropped down below the Tors for yet more techy goodness - very hard to see the trail in the gloom of sun ahead, shade below the long grass and tussocks - "where are the rocks!?".  Nelson had a close call down near the bottom, tipping somehow off, but saving himself well. 

Back up the road to Castle, into the single-track at inordinate speed, flowing smooth, railing and bombing, slowly reeling Nelson in, but also wanting to stay back a bit to avoid the dust he was raising.  Around the hairpins and into the climb, started well but I started to really lose steam on the last of the climb, while he just blazed on ahead, disappearing from my sight and waiting for me on the road.  

Onto the road, around under the Gondola and into the wind, that seemed to get stronger the closer we got to the gate.  Then it was howling through the Cutting, and we dropped into Britten, I was feeling my way on the singletrack cos tussocks were overgrowing.  Nelson picked the high line and we went up over (below Broadleaf) rather than around the front, then onto Vee Twin as usual for the bomb down, peeling off the usual corner and across the front.  Once across we explored sheeplines, some interesting connections here, and ended up above the last dropdown to pylon and exited the park at Longridge, climbing back up to the car via Clearview and Ridgeview.   

Unquestionable 11.79 kms and peculiarly only 487 m shimmied

Coincidentally, Andy, Wahayno and Wazzah had parked near us and were riding Greenwood at approximately the same time.

Labouring on Labour Day

Hard work on the hill today - I really struggled, but kept on pushing.  Up from home via the usuals, with a bleeding nose kicking in just as I got to Brake Free, so stopped to quell that with the help of the water fountain.  On up to the top and straight into the the jumps, everything a little soggy under the trees after the 2 inches of rain we got a few days ago.  Straight into Worm and up onto the Traverse for a many-times-interrupted flow across.  I welcomed the stops for breathers to let others through, but there are still too many people who haven't got the memo that downhill gives way.  

Up onto Vernon, good blast down here with only a couple of sidles to let climbers through, jumped over the Rapaki-top and straight into Witch Hill ("closed" according to the signage - Pah!).  Cleaned it all and had a breather at the high point before launching in to finish and hit the road.  I truly considered turning back here, it was all just too much, but I perservered and got to Castle Rock feeling okay.  My rear wheel loose-spoke squeek on every rotation was annoying so I flipped the bike and tried to find the culprit - to no avail.  

Launched into the descent and held rapid speed and flow, ducking and weaving the rocks across the slope.  Some nice tidying lower down, but speed was good.  Brief breath at the hairpin and then eased back into it, and the climb was goood.  Straight onto the road and climbing, grinding my way back up to the top.  Clamber clamber onto the Tors and, "damn!" some walkers on their way up it.  "oh well..." off I went and they were young enough not to be bothered by me, and even stepped out of the way.  I let their tail ender come through cos she was puffing and I said "no, you come through, I'll probably fall off and embarrass myself."  This was just as the steeper tech started, all of which I cleaned until the last-worst.  As I was getting going again nearly lost it over the bars, but kept rolling down foot not clipped.  Onto road and coasting cruise back to Witch for the clamber to a nice long rest at the high point.

Rolling off again, fun blast to Rapaki-top and onto the road for the climb (too tired to do the trail), slowly reeling in a rider ahead.  He stopped at Huntsbury and I rolled straight past into the Traverse for a good hoon around here.  Really puffing tho.  Good times had and into the trees, jumpies, straight down to Rocks, Gums, not too greasy, lower section below Skidder had the usual wetspot, then out down the road into 235 which had some grease, that's for sure.  Jumped the tree and the next one not greasy in there, then across and all th eway to the bottom, nice flow all the way.  Onto road and home, wiped.

A typically substantive 20 kms, with a leg-tiring 731 m climbed.

Post number 1450

Sunday to the Castle and back

Excellent empty stomach solo blitzkrieg across the top and back, taking in Vic, Traverse, Vernon, Witch, Castle and the Tors, there and back identical to a certain March ride of this route.

Grunted up the usual, gasping on the steepest bit.  Climbed all the way up to the top where there was a massive crowd of teens making a huge noise, some sort of organised walking trip.  They let me past and I boffed around over the jumpies and peeled right into Worm climb, out to Traverse whereupon I met many riders coming the other way.  Good blaze around here and then up onto Vernon for a biff boff baff down and around, not so many riding up this.  Straight through Rapaki-top and into Witch for a techy dab-free climb.  Stopped for a well earned breather at the usual high point then bopped off down to the road, railing the berms like a happy thing.  Onto the road and climbing, cruising, keeping up the pace, up to Castle where I stopped and had a tiny nibble on some One Sq.  

Now, the crux of the matter, Castle Rock track.  Keen to test the Jeht here and I was not disappointed at all.  Railing blast of a flight down it, superlative handling.  Good climb in here then final bits of rock and onto the road at Bridle-top and straight into the climb back up to the top, and ebike hooning past me.  At the top a couple of runners above held me off from pushing up to the Tors Track.  Then waited for them to get low enough I wouldn't catch them, then off I set.  Cleaned more of it than usual, the usual dab points ridden right over, until I found a new one.  Rode unclipped for the last bumpy descent then flew off down the road.  Along here, I got a nose grab of petrichor - the beautiful bushy, musty, dank smell you encounter at a certain perpetually shaded point on the Summit Rd between Witch and Tors.

Onto the Witch, a few riders coming through towards me as well a couple of walkers, cleaned the climb and then hooned over and down to Rapaki for a long slog climb up the road, around to Traverse again, good blast around here, catching a couple of women just after the pond, and then a good flight to the forest, jumps, see-saw, first few berms Brake Free and out down Rock garden, gums, through where I cut the other week and all the way down.  Onto road, into dogparkcarpark for the slightly greasy but fun 235 and blasting out to the very end, clamber up to road and home.

Over 20 kms, and 720 m altituded, felt good.

Tuesday To Bridle and Back

Home from work and I was full of anger - mostly at the moronic government we're stuck with. 

So, jumped on the Rocky and headed out and up.  Usual route up through Vic, 19th, skidder, climbing the bastard pretty good, then straight up to top for to roll around and pop the jumpies and hang a right on Worm to get back up onto the Traverse for the slog across.  Pretty good run across here, never feeling too tired and pushing hard.  

Onto Vernon and up and over, only meeting one girl as I came down off the overgrown detour.  No one else so a fast, curvy, smooth run.  Straight through Rapaki-top, suprisingly empty, and into Witch, clamber clamber out and around and straight through, onto the road for the slog to the top of Castle.  

Brief breather, then straight in.  What a blast.  Wiiide open, clear, tidy, clean, fast, and smooth.  Still enough techknuckle rocks to have to weave around and over but felt smoother and faster, well mown.  Rocketship down to the first hairpin and around, then more sedate, but loving it.  Clamber clamber up then drop to the road and straight into the climb.  Along here these long legged bugs were flying and catching the sun, and then swallows were hooning all over the place catching them in mid air.  Spectacular.  

Big cluster of mixed roadies at the top of Castle, "hello," and I pushed up onto Tors just as a dude was running by.  Sat and looked at the view and waited til he was nearly at the road before dropping in.  Good run across here, probably cleaned it best of any time, including the bit that usually got me.  Onto the road and runner dude was on the trail above it so I stayed down and coast-rolled down down back to Witch, one dab on the climb before cruising around (meeting one rider) and boffed off down onto the road where I stayed to climb back around to Traverse, pushing hard all the way, never letting up.  There was a dude following and he never caught me, which is good.  He dropped down Huntsbury as I hit the Traverse, with a woman in a pink top a little way behind me.  By the time I was below Sugarloaf she was miles back.  Good run the rest and into the trees, jumpies, see-saw, begining of Brakefree and then out to the paddock run, rocks, gums, usual droppy route, bombing through out all the way.  Below road, out to road at corner, up around down to Dogpark carpark and alllll the wya down 235 to H'Ell and the clamber up onto the road for the fast blast back to the driveway.

A pleasant 19.92 kms, with (unsurprisingly - given; and, and, and...) 726 m climbed.

Sunday Tops Again but Mountained

Good leg stretch hoon along the tops similar and back similar to yesterday but on the single track on the mountainbike.  Up the usuals, 19th, skidder, gutser (brief breather half way up), to top of Vic, down around the jumpies and hard right into Worm back up to Traverse.  Into the long slog around here, going well, then over Vernon, bomb to Rapaki-top, into Witch, decently negotiated.  Along road up to Castle and bomb in behind a couple of other guys (dad and son) I'd crossed paths with a couple of times, after giving them a good gap.  I popped out the very end closer to them than I'd been to start with and straight into the climb back up the road.  

Up onto the Tors for a good waft down this.  Very overgrown.  Onto road again and good blat around to Witch, up and over again, then up the road around Vernon, catching and overtaking another rider.  Into Traverse, nice bomb, then through the jumpies, rabbit paddock, rocks, gums, road, 235 out and up and down behind houses home.  

Similar but different, 20kms, 740 m climbed

Sunday Castle Bridle Return

Good spin across the top this morning with a bit of rain.  

Headed up the usual, 19th, Skidder, Grunter, up the Worm and then across the Traverse, into the wind.  

Dropped down (nee)FourPause Huntsbury DH jumpy, making a couple of old lady walkers step aside (I'd watched from above as another biker had had to stop because of their ignorance), just before the final gap.  

Back up the gravel clamber and onto Vernon for a smooth bomb down, dropping the mother and child who were on my tail at the start.  Good bomb down here, only having to deviate once for some climbers.  

Straight across Rapaki Saddle and straight into the Witch, with an excellent climb here, one hand-dab.  Spitty rain started here, which was un-forecasted, and proceeded to be steady from here onwards on my way out.  Up the road and into a slightly slickly greasy Castle, pinging all over the place, but kept a good pace.  Bike handing well.  Rain stopped and I headed back up the road and climbed up onto Tors.  

This was a bit scary, with the exposure lower down and the rocks all slick; I was careful.  Down onto the road and onto the wee single track above it for a techy honky (brakes) cruise around.  Back over Witch and then, for some obscure reason, up Vernon, climbing climbing and sloooowwwlly winding in a dude ahead of me.  

Into the Traverse and it wasnt until the Sugarloaf saddle that I caught him and he let me by.  By here we'd ridden into rain again too, slightly wetter than the previous shower.  He was pretty much on my tail from there.  

Into Vic, and out of the rain, I pulled up to adjust bike and he bombed off ahead, me chasing over the jumps (he bailed on second one), then holding back for the See Saw to settle, over this, first couple of brakefrees then across the rabbit paddock and into the rocks, around through gums, usual route, lifting over the log, and all the way down, bombing.  Into 235 and it's not as greasy, but still a bit mucky, as last time.  Last climb, and descent behind houses - home.

Minty slog, 20.6 kms with 790 m climbed.

Thursday Night Castling above the Fog

Good ride tonight. Nelson got to mine and we set off just before 5.30pm.  

Up the usual, over 19th, skidder, gruntfest, spectacular sunset as we crested through Brake Free.  Into Worm where it was pretty dark, then onto the Traverse and the light was spectacular basking the last glow on the hills ahead.  Uneventful cruise across the Traverse, getting darker but still not using lights (tho most riders coming towards us were) and around then onto Vernon, lights on for descent here, taking a bit to get the eyes in.  

Quite dark by the time we hit Witch, and this is where we noticed the fog growing in the valleys below, all underlit and groovy.  Along the road, a bit of a stretch at the top of Castle then off, me leading, full lights blazing my way ahead.  Tricky.  Around the switchbacks and dust from above coming down.  Good gap between us, which Nelson closed on the climb.  

Hit the road and the climb back up to Tors where we perched for a few minutes before heading down.  Lights made this tricky with big tussocks glaring the view of the trail beyond.  In the tough stuff lower down I baulked and then couldn't find my mojo again.  Ugh.  Onto the little singletrack above the road and techy tricksiness ensued.  A bit greasy along here too, some bits never seeing the sun, heavily dewed.  Across onto Witch and good blast in places.  Then back up Vernon on the singletrack.  Long slog.  

Traverse, pretty good blast, and the climby bit from the Sugarloaf saddle was shorter and easier than usual and the rest of the way felt really good.  Jumpy in the trees and see-saw then all of BrakeFree, start of Sesame with the peel off into the gums to extend it.  

Clambered out to the skidder and back up over 19th, where in the trees, I peeled right into what I thought might work, but didnt really, and then we found the trail dropping down to the Latters Spur track.  Took this, across into the trees, then the lower one we usually walk, and climbed out taking the cutting behind the slide, rocky track to dogpark and then into the 235 trail for a blaze.  I came unstuck in here.  Took a wide 'berm' line in the loose fir tree zone and front wheel washed, throwing my weight forward, unbalanced toppling, trying to save it, losing it, falling and then getting pinned.  A sandwich of handlebar and ground, leg, bike frame, leg weight holding it all down.  Then my pinned leg started cramping something fucking wicked in the calf.  "Get it off me, get it off me! Ow! Ow!"  Once I managed to stand and stretched it helped but it's been really sore ever since.  A few scuffs and blood too...  Classic.  Finished off with the jumps and cautious on the ball-bearing acorns then final exit down out low and final wee blast home.

Moderately consequential just sub-20 kms, with 732 m climbed

Thursday Evening to Castle, Tor and Pirate

Drove over and met Nelson at the Port Hills/Opawa/Curries Rds corner and we left his car there, driving with his bike on back back to mine.  

Got riding up the hill, usual route, 19th, Skidder, Grunter, Worm onto Traverse and across.  LOTS of riders coming the other way, first group was E bikers, then 2, then a solo, then a massive group that we pulled over for and right in front of us their second or third rider massively OTB'd it, his bike flipping and vaulting off down the hill below.  Looked like a hard hit.  He was okay, and once they'd all piled through we got moving again.  Good power on the climbs but still not as fast as Nelsie.  A few muppets coming towards us towards the end had no idea about protocol.  Onto Vernon, I led the way and we had a good run down this, pulling over once for a small group.  Across into Witch and I let Nelson take the lead, with good reason.  I dabbed the one spot and he powered on ahead.  Brief rest at high point then downwards and onto the walkway, techily tricksnical along the way.  Then up the road and to Castle Rock.

Good blast down the Castle, me chasing.  Slowly reeling him in towards the first hairpin, on his tail to the next, then he left me for dust.  Up the road, and up onto the Tors.  Huh,wtf!?  A couple of trail (MOTOR)bikes coming up the TORS track!?  Far out!  We waited for them, but they seemed to keep stalling just around the corner from us (at the start), so we took off around to them and they moved out the way and we bombed on down and they continued on.  Nutters - aNd RidiNG oN a WaLkiNG TrAcK ToO!  HoW DaRe ThEy!!?   Dabbed my (now) usual dab (past my old usual dab) and down to the road, then back onto the walking track above the road (!) to take us around to the fence crossing for clambering up the back of the Pirate track.

Over the fence, up the hill, over the next fence onto what was the 4wd track (doesnt even look like a double track anymore) and back over the fence again, picking our way around to the top through the tussocks near where a track used to be.  Very overgrown, the greenest and longest I've ever seen for this time of year.  Onto what we thought of as the route, nope, what about over here?  nope, here?  nope.  here?  maaaayyybbeee???  okay, i'm just gonna use this well worn track.  Nelson tried to take the freaky droppy track off to the right of the ridge but really couldn't follow it.  Oh well.  Down the ridgeline, to the sideline with the wooden features which he rode (I stayed below), then down further and right, up/across onto the razorback ridge.  Woohoo.  Feels more tech than even last time (with Pete).  Usual sketch, lack of traction.  Nelson rode the rock garden.  Then lower down we bypassed where it went off to the right on interesting lines, because there was just no following it; impossible to see. Long steep downhill blast, keeping speed in check, a little, eventually to the gate.  With VERY hot brakes (you could smell the burn when grass touched them).  Over the gate, through the next, then around to top of the pines.  Down a bit.  One line looked promising but then didn't look like it went anywhere so we sidle climbed across to the fenceline.  Quite a good line down this, then, picking our way around, turning back up to take a cool raily berm line, then pretty much out and down.  Gorse very prickly down the straight, then cruise back to the car along Port Hills Rd. 

A stringent 16.1 kms, with 623 m climbed (added to the 220 we started with means 840 decended).

Wednesday Night Mulleto

Out for a loner last night, testing the new front wheel!  Gone Mullet, 29r with a 2.6 Nobby Nic on front and 27.5+ 2.8 Nobby on the back.  Good combo.  

Ride thoughts:  Slightly different feel in front end, seems to grip/steer better.  Seat post slightly back now, and need to ameliorate that by moving seat (even) further forward, maybe tilted too, for climbing.  Otherwise, better.

So, left home at 6, headed up through Vic.  Seemed to have solid power and a couple of roadies (1 gravel) were just below as I entered Vic Park Rd, didn't catch me for ages, which was a surprise.  Then they didn't drop me at all.  Usual 19th behind over, skidder, up gutz, climbing similar to pre-seat tilt (of a couple months back).  Up to top.  Quick jump through the two jumps, then peeled round onto Worm for to get to Traverse.  Lots of riders coming my way.  Stopped for lots of them.  Decided not to stop for one or two.  Fuck some people are selfish morons.  Fuck them.  

Into Vernon, climb and cruise.  New tire, bigger wheel, gripppppy.  Across top of Rapaki, loads of radiocontrol gliders.  Straight into Witch, cleaning all but one dab.  Around, front wheel rolls over rocks smoother, for sure.  Onto the road for the climb around up to top of Castle.  6.55 here.

Excellent blast down the Castle.  Speed and grip, but pretty mucky in a couple of spots, and got quite splecked.  The climb seemed easy, over to Bridle.  Straight back into the road climb, hoofing it back up to the top, and it was only 7.10 when I stopped to stretch on the Tors Track.  

Wheel difference accentuated by angling of camera. 

Into the descent, one or two mucky spots, but cleaned all but the usual droppy fun descend.  Across road onto walking track, dab and walk through first climb, quite overgrown, but rest of it was a good blast.  I *think* less pedal strike.

Back into the Witch, climbing again, over, able to see loads more riders coming up Rapaki (this late!?).  Good fang down to the saddle and stayed on singletrack climbing, more muppets coming towards me, then up and around back to Traverse.  Good blast along here, meeting a rider who said "we meet again" (one of the many I'd passed earlier) not far from where we'd met earlier.  I wonder what his ride had consisted of, considering how far I'd been there and back...  Can only assume Flying Nun, maybe?  On round the rest of the Traverse into the sun, then into the pines of Vic and across into the jumps, landing hard on first jump, okay on second, see-saw, and first couple pumps of Brakefree, then checked rear suspension and it was locked out!  

Into the rocks and Gums, blasty blitz down and through, mucky usual lowest spot and through to 19th, where I took the road down, into 235, good most of the way til the Oaks where it was mucky and slick and wet as hell.  All the way down to the H. Ell extension and out to road, for the bomb home.

Mulletted 20kms, with 727 m climbed.

Tuesday Night Across the Tops and Back Again

Keep on pushin' on.  Out on my own tonight; only chance this week.  On the Rocky, headed up through Vic the usual route, pushing quite hard, and overtaking a group of 4 on the road (who, granted, were taking it pretty easy), then up through the usual grunter and around onto Worm leading me to the Traverse.  Good push across here with quite a few tail-winds helping me along.  Clambered up onto Vernon and had a nice blast around and down to Rapaki-top, feeling smooth and flowy.  Popped across here and straight into the Witch, cleaning all the way around to where I stopped to have my first break and a small snack I hadn't realised I needed.  Interestingly, the Summit Rd Society has bulldozed some tracks into that Avoca Valley block, scarring the land big-time.  I wonder what their intentions for those are?

On the road now, climbing around up to top of the Castle, passing a group of youth out walking, just before the top.  Dropped in and flowingly bombed it all the way, warp-speed in the lower reaches before the first hairpin.  Around this and picking up speed again, then easing off after the next corner on the last bit before the climb, which proved quite jolly.  Over and down to the Bridle Saddle, and back into the climbing, back up the road towards the Tors.

The youth walkers were climbing up onto the peak above Castle and Tors track as I climbed, and were in residence as I pushed then rode up to the track.  There were also a group of 3 Gravellers (one on a Krampus) at the Castletop donning jackets for their ensuing descent (of the road!).  I had a bit of a stretch, then into the groove of the Tors track, clipping the odd pedal in the tussockzone but flowing better down into the rocktech.  ONE spot got me this time.  I've gotten over all the older baulkers, but cant seem to get my head around this last one.  Good bomb down the last rocks as an E-biker cruised under me on the road...  Across onto the wee-singletrack-above-the-road.  Chucked on my jacket (which I'd had strapped to the frame), the breeze just getting a tad too chilly.  Got riding and had a nice tool around this tight wee trail.  Across onto Witch, still climbing really strongly, and feeling good.  A breather at the high point then another fun blast around and down to the Rapaki. 

Straight through and into Vernon singletrack climb, pushing, ever pushing and managing to hold onto the pace.  Up around, blitzy blitz down the last and then dropped the (newish) rock gappy drop thing down for the first time.  Kinda clipped the pedals, so need to pop more air next time...  Around the Traverse, rolling nicely on the downs and still with the power on the climbs; feeling surprisingly good.  Into Vic top and all the jumps, then See Saw, first section BrakeFree and out, down Rabbit into Rocks, Gums, flowy flowy bomb bomb bomb all the way out to 19th, then below the road, this time all the way down to try out that drop-off and down a couple of wee guts to the Harry Ell, then climbed back up to the road on the Corner where Tawhairanui starts, still coping well with the climbing!  Coasty coast down the seal to Dogpark Carpark and straight in - under the tree, then one of my fastest down here.  Wetspots still greasy, especially the Oaks.  Across into the last bit, then took the walking track exit out to VicParkDrive and final bomb home.

Just shy of 20 kms, and over 750 climbed...  Not Bad At All.

Sunday A Circumnavigation of Sorts, the Pleasant Tor-Pirates

Great ride today with Nelsie and Pete.  We met at Ferrymead bridge (Nelsie and me in our cars, Pete having ridden from home).  Reminding me of the PFMTBC days, we headed up St Andrews Hill, right on Marama then continuation up Canon Hill Crescent to the park, up through this (the steep way) then on Major Hornbrook up through to Long/Clear/Ridge/-views, over the fence where the bath used to be, and on up through the cute wee lambs on Britten.  Pete not been on the bike a lot in the last 6 weeks, neither had Nelson really either (still a whippet tho)... 

Around the front of Britten at the top and over the fence for the short climb up onto the descent of Mt Pleasant track down to Cavendish Saddle.  From here, up the steep walk track for a start (old lower zigs overgrown), cutting right, through the tightly sprung gate onto the old zig zags, more of them than I ever remembered, up the back of Mt Cavendish and over through behind the Gondola building.  Onto the steppy track, I took the lead, and we bomboed down, then took all the lines through over, cleaning all but a couple of spots, to the Bridle-top.  Through here and straight up the road.

At Castle we schluffed up onto the Tors track and took a short break - snack, feast on the view, and to allow a couple of runners through on their track.  Off again, I led the way, and we headed across and down through the good tech - dabbing the usual(s).  Across onto the walk-track-above-the-road, enjoying it's flowy tech around til we got to the gap in the fence to climb up to the top of the Pirate Duncan track.  

Picking our way over the top, was bloody hard to see where the line used to go.  Obvs not many people are using it of recent times.  The worn-in track near the fence seems to have seen some use, but the tech offshoot lines not at all.  Nice run down the easier bits, then we diverted up to do the wooden feature which Nelson dropped, I detoured around and Pete baulked up on.  Down then sidle up onto ridge and fun tech rock Alex' stylez.  Very enjoyable.  Lower down, into the grassy bits, really hard to work out where the lines were, found a couple features we used to drop down but no way to piece them together.  Over the fence into the trees, a well trod line down through the right hand top across then down into jumpszone.

Out the bottom, down next to the horsey paddocks, mud, then split from Pete around through Heathcote under the railway down past Ferrymead, brief play in new pumpzone and back down BridlePathRd to bridge and cars.

A rather interesting classic style, up around and down - 16.36 kms, with 713 m elevated.     

Thursday Early Tops Refresher 1st Ride of Spring

Awake at 6.30, got up and got out the door at 3 minutes to 7.  Usual climb up, doing alright, gasping like usual up the grunter.  Low clouds just above the dog park skudding pink in the dawn's early highlights.  Stormy and grey to the west, and gale winds found once up on the Traverse and heading around to the saddle below Sugarloaf.  Howling across the saddle, head-on while approaching then pushing me along afterwards.  All the way along, facing the same problems, gale head, then tail winds at various points.

Up over Vernon, lovely push along to start with, then on the Rapaki side, gravity barely holding out against the wind near the bottom, and pushing sideways across the top.  Into Witch and good technical ability shining through, one dab crunching front spokes.  Stopped at the high point briefly, out of the wind, and took in the view.  On down cruise cruise, then stayed on the road because the cross wind along here was too insane, til I was well up under the Tors.

Top of Castle was a respite briefly, then dropped in, speed-factor-warp, blazing down the trail, feeling super good, weaving the good weave, with a pause at the hairpin.  Off at a cruise but pumping more speed up before the next before another cruise into the climb, cleaning nicely and then just meandering around to the end.  Straight into the climb, wind all around, back up to the top of Castle, and clambered up onto Tors track.  8am on the dot up here...  Into this and the sun came out and was glorious.  Stopped just below where I usually dab, but didn't to get this.

Down onto the road and bypassing the squirrelly singletrack above the road (on account of the wind) and stuck to the Summit Rd battling the wind back to Witch Hill. Up the climb, over around and down to Rapaki top, sticking to the road again up and around, horrendous wind as I approached the Traverse.

Onto this last blast around the top, winds again, but sunshine at least.  Low clouds to the west.  Top of Vic, across, all the jumps, the second one actually completing properly for once, then See Saw, Brakefree to start, cutting out onto the rabbit paddock down through the rocks and bombing through the gums.  Out to Skidder, climbing up over the 19th dropping down and around the road into 235, bomb bomb bomba, trying out a new line across the next bit to Harry Ell extension, road, up onto our wee trail behind the stone sunset chair, final blast to driveway, and home.  It poured with rain about a half hour after I got home, so, lucky I missed that!

A pulchritudinous 19.67 kms with 728 m climbed.

Tues Day Ride of All the Singletrack

One last day of TOIL to use up so stayed home of a Tuesday and got out for a nice long ride.  City had been under fog all morning, but by the time I left it'd burned off and a nor-west 'squal' was approaching across the sky.  That spat on me most of the way across the top til I was about below the Tors.

Up through Vic, grinding away up the guts and out Worm to Traverse across.  Catching a woman and passing her just before I got to the turn off for the 4pause/HuntsDH.  Popped off for a short blast down this, a pretty greasy section of track, but the jumps were good.  Took it down across and left down to the gate on Old Skool descent then ground my way back up to the top of Huntsbury.  

Into Vernon, occasional moments of weavy flow and a pretty relaxed attitude to the whole thing.  Bounced across Rapaki-top and straight into the Witch.  One dab but rolling-on, no stops.  Okay climb, not bad descent, nothing special.  Across the road and straight up onto the walking track single.  Techy this direction, slow and techy.  Stuffed up a few spots, fear of falling to the road below getting the better of my balance.  All done and onto the road to under-pass the Tors, treadling up to Castletop.  A roady was stopping and checking out his bike here, and it turned out to be an old colleague (now retired).  We had a good catch up, moseying a little down the road from where he pointed out his house to me.

Parted ways and I rode back up to the trail entrance, dropping into downhill mode and slowly increasing speed as I rolled, until I was travelling quite quickly, grooving and weaving, pumping and jiving, haring down the rocks and through the weave, tight around the hairpin, gaining speed again, back wheel flicking on slick rocks, next hairpin, roll roll, pop pop and..., climb.  Pushed it hard, stayed on top of the whole situation, negotiating rocks and roll.  Over, down again and round out to the road.  Peered into Lyttelton for a sec, then hit the climb back up to Castletop.

Walked up onto the climb to the Tor track, then rested with a snack in the sun before skiving off down the trail.  Rocks slick, tech-trickery, blitzy blitz, dab or three, and down across the road onto the singletrack walker, enjoying it this direction a bit better.  Lots of cleaned then into the Witch, better this way, and nearly rode up the road after Rapaki, then decided to do ALL the singletrack, and climb Vernon.  Pretty not bad.  

Back into the Traverse, all the way into Vic, picked up a bit of speed and into the jumps, over the seesaw, around the track closed, "why's the track closed, it's perfectly surfaced and dry,...  oh, right, oh well, all good after that, but out, down to rockgarden entry of Gums, and across and down my usual roots and routes.  All the way down, out 19th, down the road and into the 235 for a nice greasy spin.  The broken dead old tree that fell over the other week is still there so I broke a couple branches off it, thereby making it slightly easier to get under...  should take the hatchet up, I guess.  I was surprised no one else had broken any more off (one or two on the other side had been done).  Nice condition, grip-wise, lower down too.  Then leafy climb and up the road briefly again before the bomb behind the houses, which was stymied by a woman and two dogs, then fear of grease-city.

Well worth it, 21.4 kms, with 847 m climbed

Tuesday Afternoon Jaunt, There and Back

At the bach for Easter, no bikes present, just walks and swims.  Home earlier than expected on Tuesday (teacher's only day for kids), so had time to get a daylight ride.

Up from home, keeping it puffing on the way up, then grovelling up the grovel from the skidder.  Up through for a water refill at Brake Free then up the Worm and onto the Traverse.  Not a bad ride around here, keeping the heart-rate up and pushin' on.  Paused at Four Pause for a pause, but decided to just stay up high today (couldn't face more climbing than necessary).  Across to Vernon, clambered up this and then blasted down, flying across the Rapaki-top and straight into the Witch, shifting down as I climbed then cleaning (only just) all of the tech and motoring around to the high point, stopping for a well earned break.  

Rolling again, up the road cruising nicely to the top of Castle, pausing only briefly before dropping in.  Slightly pingy blast down here, but cleaning it, no close calls and bombing down.  Brief pause for air at the hairpin then on down and a bouncy climb out, easing through the final swoops to Bridle Path top.  Grabbing some air looking at the view of Lyttelton, then back up the road.

Only til I got to where you can clamber up onto the walking track to climb up around above the road onto the Tors track, straight on blasting down this, tackling the tech with and audience of a couple of young riders down on the road.  Cleaned the usual stallpoint, but then stalled after it.  Bomb down across road onto fun singletrack above the road, nice run through this back to Witch.

Nice cleaning of Witch again, bomb down then climbing the road, ugh, around back to the Traverse, straight in, keeping on pushin' on, blaze blaze blaze, over the jumps in the top of Vic trees, over the See Saw, first couple Brake Free jumps then into the Rock Garden and across the top of the Gums past my cleared log from a few weeks back.  Rolling nice again.  Around, down through my favourites, all the way, then nice relaxing coast down the road and into the last blast from the carpark, swoop swoop, scattering a mum and two kids walking, final climb, up to Microwave tower and fast blast down behind the houses, home.

Good blast, a worthwhile 20kms with 762 metres ascended

Sunday Morning Tops

Nice one on my own this morning... Headed up from home almost dead on 9am, climbing okay, pushing pretty good, and really forced my way up the steep pig from the skidder site.  cleaned it all but nearly puked by the top.  out the top and out Worm and onto the Summit Traverse.  Pulled over for anyone I met coming the other way, not too many thankfully, and made good time, and pulled up at the top of Four Pause just as two asian dudes with all the gear headed off down it, skidding and going very slow...  I let them go until they were nearly at the bottom before I launched in, and bombed, no skids, jumping all the jumps and generally enjoying the crap out of it.  9.30am at the landing strip when I pulled out and turned back uphill, grinding off up back to the top.  

Across the road and into Vernon, cruising around and then bombing, letting a couple of folk through at places, and rolling out across the bottom, jumping straight into Witch Hill, climbing, slowing down, slower then popping and weaving over the rocks, juuuust cleaning them all before onwardsly cruising around up, over and down.  Onto the road, bitter southerly hussing out of the harbour here, gale force across the saddle before the Tors.  Pushed the last stretch to the top of Castle where it was 10am.  Brief break out of the wind here, snack, then, spotting some (fast) riders entering the other end of the trail, I dropped into it, blasting and blazing, down around, and pulled up just after the first hairpin to let them through.  The first two were E-bikers, the 2nd 2, accoustic.  Got going again, kept a good pace on the climb, then out and down to the Bridle.

Back up the road, grind grind, then at the top, checked there were no walkers or runners around, and pushed up to the Tors track.  Then I spotted a million walkers on the road before the saddle...  time to get moving.  Nicely nicely across and down the steep tech.  Botched something past where I used to always botch, dabbing over a bit, then struggled to get my foot in til the last few metres, rolling through the crowd of parents and kids, and clambering up onto the wee-singletrack-above-the-road.  Once peaked, good roll and cruise through this back to Witch, into the teeth of the gale across the road and onto Witch, climbing, then continuing, non stop.  Down to Rapaki-top and steady pace around the road, riding with then pulling away from a bunch of older riders.  Was overtaken by a couple of bolshy E-bikers as I overtook a group of 3 riders (one of which on a Levo with Rohloff combo).  Watching later as those bolshy ones went down the gravel road of Huntsbury...  i mean! what's the point!?

Into the Traverse and bomb bomb bomb around, good pace  still on the climbs, but starting to feel a little jaded.  Into Vic and popped the top jump, then down past the see-saw, couple jumps of Brakefree, and back to the Rockgarden and Gums, favourite line, all the way down single to 19th, then down road, and into the new bonus, strugging past a car parked nose up fully into the entrance to it.  Final climb, then bomb down behind the houses, having to bail up to negotiate a clusterfuck of walkers at the end.  

20 kms in 2 hours, with 771 m climbed.  Pretty good.

Wednesday Night Squiggly a f

All about the tops tonight.  Parked up top of Major Hornbrook, below the usual Parkridge park, riding up through the park then up Clearview, Ridgeview and Upper Major to the non-bathtub entrance to Britten.

Around and up the singletrack, first of many climbs for the night.  Around the front and across to the cutting, then up onto the single, hanging a right and dropping down to Cavendish Saddle.  Climbed up something I'd never been on before, but it says bikes are allowed now, so gave it a look.  Too steep, so some walking, til the higher gate, and then it's quite good.  Around under the Gondola building, slightly lower than usual, with nice views out to the harbour, then into the usual steppy rocky descent down.  Took a couple of different lines this time, which bogged me up a bit, but got to the Bridle Path eventually.

Across, and up the walking track, climbing climbing, cleaning to further than usual.  Walked a bit, rode a bit, walked some more, before finally riding nicely to the ridge.  Around and fun fast descent, feeling pretty good on the bike.  into the climb, and climbing higher than the past, but still having to walk a bit Nelson's cleaned several times, up around and then right through the Tors track, dropping down and having a blast.  Same dab as last time, and then back up the road to Castle.  As I rode up here I could see a guy carrying his bike along the Castle Rock ridge.  Back and forth he went, checking his phone whenever he came back.  Then I saw the drone.  So, he's making some fake-arse footage of him epic'ly carrying his bike across the ridge???  Fake news!

Dropped into Castle and blasted.  Absolutely blazed it.  Smooth, flowy, awesome.  Around and up, climb feeling good last drop to road and around.  Nice cruise under the gondola and up.  Back into Cavendish Saddle and climbing up the back of Mt Pleasant.  Cleaning all and still feeling good, all the way to the top.  Did some yoga stretches here, pigeon for both legs, and some spinal twists...

Droppin' in, through the gate, over the stile, and flying, southerly wind pushing me a long down through the tussocks, line nice and clear, fast, raily.  Excellent bomb.  Taking it a little easy to the end, not really pedalling, then dropping down to Greenwood middle entrance here.  Short rest, ate the rest of my OSM and then hit Greenwood down.  Again, smooth and flowy, fast and furious.  Blasted down, lower back not getting sore at all.  Didnt even need a rest after Gloomy, just bombed on through, dropping down the rocks and flowing through the rest of the jumps and berms, all the way down.

Onto the road and climbing, long slog.  Getting a bit warm, delayered on the way up here.  At the pines, thought I wouldn't be a mountainbiker if I didn't get onto the trail, so over the stile and climbing.  Then short road, fill up bottle, and into the Britten.

Flying down through sheep and then across the front, same as last time.  Checked out further over onto some rocks.  Definitely scope for lines to wend down to the trail from there, but turned back up onto the regular final drops and rocketted down through this, over the fence, and on down to the car, nice big jump just before the road.

Convoluted ups and downs of a 20 kms, with 900m climbed - similar scale to last week.  A lot for a weeknight.

Wednesday Night Huntsvern WitchCastleTors Pause OldSkool

New Drive Train!!!  Another 30t oval, and new cassette and chain.  New gear cable, and pivots lubed and tightened (awaiting a rebuild kit).

Me on my lonesome last night. Parked after work on the river, bottom of Bowenvale, and headed up Major Aitken at a pretty steady clip.  Pushed hard never stopping, up on to the gravel, chuff chuff chuff, nice refreshing breeze up here, tho quite pushy, onto the singletrack climbing still then up the grovel to the road.  Across, into Vernon, letting one or two coming up past, then bombing down, short cut to end.

Rapaki-top, not too many around, straight into Witch Hill, too low a gear and dabbed, but cleaned up the rest of it.  Stopped for my first real rest at the high point, feeling hungry, so snack and water.  Rolling again, drop drop to road, across onto the walking-singletrack, enjoying the crisp gear shifting and buttery smooth suspension.  Up the road, short stretch, then dropping into Castle for a fang. 

Lovely blast, mostly totally on top of the game, ripping through and down.  One or two lapses, but mostly all good.  Climbing, bunch of joggers near the end, then up the road, nice steady pace, observing a dude riding below on the trail.  Up and around, and at the top there's a massive group of riders approaching.  I walked up entrance to the Tors track, riding near the top, and was clear before they arrived.  Descending time.  Lovely blast, tail wind down the Tors track.  Popped and cleaned everything that used to get me, but had one dab where I've never dabbed before. 

Onto the road, and bypassed the singletrack because a couple of walkers had just entered it.  Coasted along the road for a while, nice and restful, then carried my bike up onto the singletrack about where you climb through the fence for pirate track.  Rode the rest through, down, across the road and climbed well up the Witch.  Didn't even pause at the top, just adjusted suspension and bombed it, waft waft float over rocks, and good slam through to the end.  Straight across onto the Vernon climb, clambering away ahead of another guy leaving him behind. 

Massive posse accumulated at start of Traverse.  Tailender stopped to let the dust settle before heading off, then guy from behind blitzed through, so I rested slightly longer and hit it across.  Opened up the suspension, dropped the seat and dropped into FourPause...  Wind was pushy on the jumps, but cleaned them all ripped into the landing strip zone, bombing down, tail wind over the edge dropping fast down to the stile.  Then feeling super good, bombed down the rest of it, usual dab on the one rock lower down, then bombing down into the off cambers and onto Old Skool proper.  Brief pause at the high start point, then dropping in, trying to run my left leg forward, to give the muscles some new memory.  Tried this several times on the way down but man it makes the riding weird.  Amazing tail wind across the first long traverse, head wind through the second, and tail again for the next.  Smooth, quiet, tire noise only...  Sweeeet!  Blasted through the lower reaches and bombed out to the road. 

Long coast and easy pedal back to the car... A mondo 19.3 kms, with 850m climbed!  Not bad for an afterwork week night.

Friday Night Bonanza, *post number 1111

One-thousand, one-hundred and eleventh blog post...

What added up to a fairly sizeable total tonight.

First up, I parked in Hillsborough Tce and rode around and up Ramahana, Aotea and Huntsbury, then across Vernon, Witch, single-track above the road, Castle.  Back up the road and up onto the Tors, slippery down here with all the dried weed-eaten grass, and a wee low-speed OTB crash onto soft tussock.  Then back on the above-road-singletrack and through the fence and up onto the top of the Duncan Pirate Track.  Into this, and man is it dry. So dry.  Dry AF.  A tinderbox.  Hoped like hell my hot disks wouldn't set a fire.  In the forestry at the bottom I took a muppet route down.  Looks like there's been more work done in there.  Then back on the road and around and over Centaurus Rd hill and back down to the car.

A veritable feast of 18.5 kms and 807 m climbed.

Meanwhile, T and Beck were walking up Rapaki Valley and I txtd when I was back at the car.  T suggested I ride up and meet them.  So, drove around and up to the start of cRapaki Track and parked and rode, leaving my gloves and bag behind, because I was thinking they'd be on their way down and I'd meet them... But no... every corner, are they there?  nope.  Once up on the flat I spotted them, rang, "is that you near the top?" "is that you under the pylons? Hi! - come on up!"  "Ungh, okay"  Off I treadled, meeting them just shy of the top.  Grabbed a snack off them, then headed up to the new singletrack and bombed down (pausing part of the way down, out of view, for a quick chat with Douglas), waiting for them at the flat and riding with them til it got steeper and my coasting got faster and faster til I was bombing to the bottom where I waited in the car for them.
another 250+ m in another 8 kms...

Well earned, we went to Zaffron and ate.  mmm

Saturday HuntVern WitchCastle TorLava Skooled

Early-ish ride with Nelson. Headed up the road from his, then up the dirt, singletrack to landing strip and gravel.  Around across Vernon, meeting many, and through a packed Rapaki-top.  The Witch, cleaning bar one dab, and resting at the highpoint.  Then down and across the road, onto the Crater Rim 'walkway' just above the road, good tech, then up the road to Castle Rock.  Awesome bomb down this, turning around and back up the road from the Bridle Path top. 

Up onto the Tors, Nelson cleaning the climb, awesome bomb down this, usual dab over the only bit I ever dab on now, then up onto 'Crater Rim' singletrack again, better in this direction.  Across onto the Witch, then decided on heading up the road instead of Vernon due to the beginnings of tiredness.  Into the Traverse for a spell, and for a change, we heded down the Lava Flow.  Awe.Some.Sauce  Nelson took all the ubertech lines, while I doddled down the easier stuff.  Good times.  Then, we checked out the nice new exit off down to the right.  Lots of fun, steeper and steeperer and more and more off camber as you go, one last tricksy rock to pop then into steep exit onto the valley corner of Hidden Valley 'Bonus' link.  From here it was up, up, and up, around and into Old Skool for a wicked flow...

Bloody mint. 850 altitudes and over 20 kilomenators

Monday, I went to Poteriteri for a week to get eaten by sandflies and scratched by ferns and lawyers, oh, and to count birds.